Play Online Pokies for Real Money
There are plenty of reputable casino sites where you can play online slots for real money in New Zealand, but not every one of those is top-class.
There are plenty of aspects that we at BestCasino look into when reviewing online gambling sites, so we make sure that players get the chance to win online pokies only at the very best online casinos.
Golden Tiger
Plinko
Sweet Bonanza 1000
Mafia Gold
Gold Blitz
Five Times Pay
Batman & The Joker Jewels
Granny vs Zombies
TOP 10 The Best NZ Online Pokies in 2025
Each of the above-mentioned online casinos in New Zealand has a very rich portfolio of online casino games, with online pokies making up the vast majority of them.
However, as you would expect, there are certain online slot games that stand out from the rest. If you don’t have any experience with playing online pokies, then keep reading to see our list of top online pokies.
Certainly! Here’s the cleaned-up table:
| Game | Developer | RTP (%) | Max Win | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gate of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.50 | 5,000x | 2021 |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.48 | 21,100x | 2019 |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21 | 5,000x | 2016 |
| Bonanza | Big Time Gaming | 96.00 | 26,000x | 2016 |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.09 | 500x | 2012 |
| Immortal Romance | Microgaming | 96.86 | 12,150x | 2011 |
| Blood Suckers | NetEnt | 98.00 | 1,014x | 2013 |
| Immortal Creatures | Microgaming | 96.86 | 3,000x | 2019 |
| Sugar Rush | Pragmatic Play | 95.50 | 5,000x | 2022 |
| Agent Jane Blonde Returns | Microgaming | 96.45 | 300x | 2018 |
Sweet Bonanza
Book of Dead
Starburst
Immortal Romance
1. Gates of Olympus
When discussing the best online pokies enjoyed by NZ players, Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play is impossible to miss. Released in 2021, this slot has quickly gained legendary status among pokie fans for its engaging gameplay, unique features, and eye-catching visuals.
Gates of Olympus transports you to the mythical realm of the Greek gods, where Zeus himself presides over the reels. The symbols are adorned with jewels and ancient icons, and the game’s all-ways-pay system means you can land winning combinations anywhere on the grid. With an RTP of 96.50% and high volatility, Gates of Olympus appeals to players who enjoy the thrill of chasing significant wins. Thanks to its tumble mechanic and powerful multipliers, you can win up to 5,000x your stake on this exciting pokie.
2. Sweet Bonanza
Sweet Bonanza is relatively a newbie among online pokie games as it was released just in 2019. Various New Zealanders see this game as the best to ever be released, and it is hard to argue against that.
It has a generous RTP of 96.4%, with an innovative Pay Anywhere system. Unlike Starburst, Sweet Bonanza is a high-variance game, with players having the chance to win more than 20,000x their stake in the bonus rounds.
3. Book of Dead
Book of Dead is a relatively newer online slot game, developed by Play’n GO in 2016. It boasts an above-average RTP of 96.21%, making it appealing to players. The game offers an impressive winning potential of 5,000x the player’s stake. Its adventurous theme ensures an engaging experience, keeping players entertained throughout.
Additionally, unique features such as expanding symbols, scatter symbols, wilds, and free spins add to the excitement and gameplay variety.
4. Bonanza
Speaking of the best online pokies games among NZ players, we cannot overlook Bonanza, a groundbreaking slot by Big Time Gaming. Originally released in 2016, Bonanza quickly became a favorite among pokie enthusiasts, especially for those who enjoy exciting gameplay and the innovative Megaways™ mechanic.
Bonanza features a mining theme with vibrant graphics and immersive sound effects, set against the backdrop of a gold-filled canyon. The symbols include gems and classic card values, while the game’s dynamic reel system offers up to 117,649 ways to win on every spin. Bonanza has an RTP of 96.00% and is known for its high variance, making it a popular choice for players chasing big wins. You can win up to 26,000x your stake with this pokie, making it a thrilling option for experienced players.
5. Starburst
Speaking of the best online pokies games among NZ players, we cannot overlook Starburst, another classic by NetEnt. As with Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst was developed back in 2012, with anyone punter who likes to play pokies surely has heard of it. Starburst is a mix of classic and modern slots that you can find in all online pokies casinos in New Zealand.
Symbols resemble classic slots, but the neon setting is quite modern. Starburst has an RTP of 96.09% and it is a low-variance slot, meaning it is ideal for newbies who just start their online gaming adventure. You can win up to 600x your stake with this pokie.
6. Immortal Romance
If you’re searching for a timeless classic when playing pokies, Immortal Romance by Microgaming is a must-try. This iconic slot immerses players in a gothic world of vampires, romance, and dark secrets. With an RTP of 96.86% and medium to high volatility, Immortal Romance appeals to a wide range of players, including those who enjoy dramatic storylines and substantial win potential.
The slot offers a maximum win of up to 12,150x your stake. There are four different bonus rounds in the Chamber of Spins, each linked to one of the main characters, unlocking unique features such as multipliers, rolling reels, and extra wilds. Triggering these features is possible by landing three or more Scatter symbols, and the game also offers Wild substitutions for even more ways to win.
7. Blood Suckers
Blood Suckers by NetEnt is a classic vampire-themed pokie that’s popular in New Zealand online casinos. Set on a 5×3 grid with 25 paylines, this slot is known for its chilling graphics and immersive atmosphere.
A key feature is the Stake and Hammer Bonus symbol, which triggers a thrilling bonus game where players hunt vampires for instant prizes. The Vampire Bride Scatter symbol can award up to 10 free spins with a 3x multiplier when three or more appear anywhere on the reels. Additionally, the Vampire Wild symbol substitutes for other symbols to help form winning combinations and boost payouts.
Blood Suckers is especially popular among players who enjoy horror-themed pokies with frequent bonus features and high win potential.
8. Immortal Creatures
Immortal Creatures by Microgaming is a vampire-themed pokie that captivates players with its mysterious atmosphere and engaging gameplay. Played on a 5×3 grid with 243 ways to win, this slot is known for its dramatic visuals and immersive storyline.
The game features a Scatter symbol that can trigger the Chamber of Spins, unlocking four unique free spins features—each based on a different character, offering special enhancements like multipliers, expanding wilds, and extra wild symbols. The Wild symbol substitutes for other symbols, helping to create more winning combinations.
With its rich graphics, interactive bonus rounds, and a variety of free spin modes, Immortal Creatures is a favourite among those who enjoy dark fantasy and slots packed with features.
9. Sugar Rush
Sugar Rush by Pragmatic Play is a vibrant candy-themed pokie that stands out for its colourful visuals and exciting gameplay. Played on a 7×7 grid, this slot uses a cluster pays mechanic, where wins are formed by landing five or more matching symbols in a group.
The game features a Cascading Reels system, where winning clusters disappear and new symbols fall into place, increasing the potential for consecutive wins. Scatter symbols trigger the Free Spins round, where special multipliers can land on the reels and grow with each win, leading to even bigger payouts.
With its cheerful graphics, dynamic bonus features, and potential for substantial multipliers, Sugar Rush is a favourite among players who love energetic, sweet-themed pokies with plenty of action.
10. Agent Jane Blonde Returns
We wrap up our list of popular online pokies in NZ with Agent Jane Blonde Returns by Microgaming. Naturally, this exciting title is featured at nearly every New Zealand online casino these days. Among video slots with a spy or secret agent theme, this one stands out as especially engaging.
The Agent Jane Blonde symbol acts as the Wild in this slot, helping to create winning combinations and potentially boost your payouts. Additionally, the game’s logo serves as the Scatter, which can trigger the Respin feature for even more winning opportunities.
What Kind of Online Pokies are There?
Once you start playing online pokies at any of our recommended online casinos, you will immediately be engaged. What is more, there are plenty of different slot games that you can choose from on online casino sites NZ. Let’s take a look at the different video pokies you can play at online gaming sites in New Zealand.
Classic Pokies
Classic pokies are also known as three-reel slots, and they are the simplest types of online games you can find in online casinos these days.
These pokies are ideal for all newbies in New Zealand trying their luck in the online casino industry. Besides being simple to play, classic pokies in New Zealand are also quite enjoyable. Symbols in these games usually include fruits, 7s and BARs, and you need three-of-a-kind to secure a win.
Examples of classic pokies include:
- Scorching Sevens
- Lucky Diamonds
- Reel King
- Sevens and Fruits Hold and Win
- Action Joker
Five-Reel Pokies
Five-reel pokies are also referred to as video pokies. These games come with very interesting graphics and sound effects.
Video pokies online NZ feature 5 reels and they have more paylines, so your chances of winning are now increased. What is even better is that 5-reel slots feature higher jackpots as well.
Some of the good online pokies with 5 reels you can find in NZ casinos are:
- Jack Hammer 2
- Dead or Alive
- Immortal Romance
- Jungle Jim El Dorado
- Gonzo’s Quest
Multiple-Payline Pokies
Of course, as technology progressed, there were new types of online pokies with features and more paylines that punters could choose from.
So, it was only logical that more paylines would be added to slots and there would be new reels as well. In the beginning, multi-payline slots had just 9 paylines, but nowadays you can find pokies with up to 100 paylines.
There are also games that allow players to choose their preferred number of paylines. Examples of games in this category include:
- Lucky Lady’s Charm
- Thunderstruck 2
- Rainbow Riches
- Buffalo
- Wolf Gold
Ways to Win Pokies
Since the maximum number of paylines in an online pokie game was 100, software providers came up with a new idea of ways to win.
These types of games require icons to be on adjacent reels from the leftmost to the rightmost, but on any position. This way, there are more possibilities for Kiwi pokie players as there are up to 243 ways to win. The Bonanza slot is arguably the most well-known pokie in this category.
Video Slots
Real money pokies that fall under the category of video slots are popular as they feature high-definition graphics and different bonus rounds.
These are also known as online pokies with free spins, Scatters, Wilds and other bonus round features. Video slots are so popular among Kiwi players as they give them something to aim for. Of course, prizes in these games are also much higher during the pokies bonuses rounds.
Age of Asgaard and Legacy of Egypt are good slots to mention in this category.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots have a special place among online slots. They work very simply – a portion of every player’s bet will be transferred into one common prize pool with one lucky winner having the chance to win it all.
Progressive jackpots are so popular because anyone has a chance to win a prize that often goes into millions. During our research at BestCasino, we can say that Wheel of Wishes and Mega Fortune is the progressive pokies that stand out.
3D Pokies
3D pokies are all about the gaming experience. Thanks to modern technologies, pokies providers are able to create games that go beyond flat reels. They use 3D models to create an even better gaming experience.
There are always different themes to these slots and in-game mechanics, and they are often based on popular movies, so you will surely find a game that matches your taste. We can mention Fairy Tale and Enchanted as good slots in this category.
VR Pokies
Finally, we have the VR pokies that are still in development. These new casino games offer players the chance to be inside the game instead of in front of the computer.
However, these games will take a bit to develop, and it remains to be seen how they progress in the coming years.
Free Online Pokies vs Real Money Pokies
If you are just starting out your gaming adventure in any of the online casinos we have recommended above, then you might be wondering whether you should start playing free online pokies or real money slot games.
Of course, there are advantages to both types of online pokies casinos, so let’s see in more detail what you can expect with real money and with free pokies.
Here’s a table comparing Free Pokie Games and Real-Money Pokie Games:
| Feature | Free Pokie Games | Real-Money Pokie Games |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Great for learning the rules and understanding the mechanics of the game. | Offers an adrenaline-filled experience with the chance to win real money prizes. |
| Risk Level | Completely risk-free, as no real money is required to play. | Involves real-money wagers, making it ideal for players willing to take risks. |
| Audience | Perfect for newcomers to the iGaming world or players who want to practice before wagering real money. | Suited for high-rollers or those comfortable with learning the rules while playing. |
| Game Familiarity | Allows players to explore and practice various pokies, including new releases, without financial commitment. | Ideal for experienced players looking to enjoy the thrill and aim for big prizes, including jackpots. |
| Progressive Jackpots | Not available, as real-money wagers are required to qualify for progressive jackpots. | Provides access to progressive jackpots, giving players the opportunity to win life-changing amounts. |
Online Pokies Bonuses
Once you complete the registration process at any of BestCasino’s recommended NZ casinos, you will be free to claim various bonuses that you can use on slot games. Let’s see the main ones.
Free Spins
Free spins are a favorite among players, as they let them try out online games without risking their own money. Online casinos recognize their popularity and frequently include free spins as part of welcome packages or ongoing promotions. Additionally, players can often trigger free spins within pokies by landing three Scatter symbols on the reels, adding excitement to the gameplay.
Deposit Bonus Offers
Deposit bonus offers are a common way for online casinos to reward players. These bonuses usually involve matching a player’s deposit, often as part of the first deposit after signing up. Some casinos also provide reload bonuses later in the player’s gaming journey, though this depends on the specific site’s promotional policies.
Reward Multipliers
Reward multipliers are another type of promotion offered by online casinos to engage players and promote new pokies. These limited-time offers allow players to multiply their winnings and achieve higher payouts. Since they come at no extra cost, it is always a good idea to claim them whenever they are available, as they can lead to significant rewards.
Top Game Providers
At the end of this article, it is time to take a look at some of the best software providers that partner with the best NZ online casinos and create the very best pokies games.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is a leading software provider in the iGaming industry, licensed in over 20 jurisdictions. It offers a complete mobile and desktop gaming package for online casinos. The provider has won several prestigious awards and boasts a diverse game portfolio, including slots, traditional table games, live casino games, bingo, sports betting, Drops & Wins, and virtual sports.
Play’n GO
Play’n GO is one of the most recognized software providers in the industry, having been established in the 1990s. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation and is a trusted partner of many top gambling sites in New Zealand. Play’n GO’s game library includes slots, bingo, video poker, and scratch cards, offering a wide variety of options for players.
NetEnt
NetEnt is a Swedish game provider that was founded in 1996 and is known as the first to develop games using Java. It collaborates with over 300 gaming sites worldwide. Apart from its innovative slots, NetEnt also offers live dealer games and progressive slots, providing players with a premium gaming experience.
Microgaming
Microgaming is a long-standing name in the iGaming industry, having been active for decades. It has released over 800 games, many of which are high-quality pokies. The provider is best known for its jackpots and bonuses, making Microgaming a popular choice for New Zealand gambling sites.
Red Tiger
Red Tiger is a relatively new software provider, established in 2014. Despite being a newcomer, it has quickly gained recognition with its world-class slot games. Red Tiger’s innovative approach and high-quality offerings have made it a standout name in the iGaming industry.